Vacuum cleaner and rake

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner and rake combination. The rake includes a frame having tines mounted thereon and projecting downwardly therefrom. Such rake is secured to the vacuum cleaner with the frame positioned in advance of the vacuum cleaner housing, whereby it moves in the path of the cleaner housing on movement of the vacuum cleaner. Multiple rows of tines are provided with the tines of the various rows staggered. The tines incline toward the housing of the vacuum cleaner in projecting downwardly from the frame.

United States Patent [191 Marshall [111 3,744,082 [451 July 10,1973

[ VACUUM CLEANER AND RAKE [76] Inventor: Alfred G. Marshall, P. O. Box 201,

Woodburn, Oreg. 97071 [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 195,922

[52] US. Cl 15/402, 15/142, 15/246 [51] Int. Cl A47] 9/06 [58] Field of Search l5/246, 402, 393, 15/367, 364, 142

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,685,089 8/1972 Lagerstrom l5/246 X 3,538,533 11/1970 woods 15/402 X Primary Examiner.lohn Petrakes Assistant ExaminerC. K. Moore Attorney-M. H. Hartwell, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A vacuum cleaner and rake combination. The rake includes a frame having tines mounted thereon and projecting downwardly therefrom. Such rake is secured to the vacuum cleaner with the frame positioned in advance of the vacuum cleaner housing, whereby it moves in the path of the cleaner housing on movement of the vacuum cleaner. Multiple rows of tines are provided with the tines of the various rows staggered. The tines incline toward the housing of the vacuum cleaner in projecting downwardly from the frame.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Z2 34 T l l lllll l -/6 ZZ Z2.

HEW

Ill/I/l/I/ VACUUM CLEANER AND RAKE This invention relates to vacuum cleaning apparatus of the type that is utilized in the cleaning of carpets.

So-called shag rugs or carpets have relatively long filaments or strands forming the surface of the' carpet, which are difficult to clean and properly arrange utilizing the usual vacuum cleaner. Because of their length, the strands exhibit a tendency to mat in a disarrayed manner after foot traffic thereover, and when a vacuum cleaner is run over such a carpet, difficulties are encountered in removing dirt buried within the matted material. Furthermore, of course, there is nothing in the vacuum cleaner tending to orient the strands in other than their matted state.

This invention contemplates an attachment which is securable to a vacuum cleaner, effective to rake or comb the strands of carpeting material along a path which coincides with the path of the vacuum cleaner housing during its back and forth movement over the carpeting. The attachment includes tines which, with the vacuum cleaner moved away from the operator serve to straighten out the shag strands to promote a better cleaning action on the cleaner housing then moving over the area. On the vacuum cleaner then being drawn to the operator, a final raking of the vacuumed strands is produced, to fluff up and properly ori' ent these strands.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide novel means for vacuum cleaning and raking a shagtype carpet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unique attachment for a vacuum cleaner, which converts the cleaner into an efficient instrument for cleaning and raking shag carpets and rugs.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, which is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rake attachment as contemplated according to one embodiment of the invention, showing such from its bottom side, thus to illustrate the tines that project downwardly in the attachment;

FIG. 2 shows the attachment connected to a vacuum cleaner housing, and;

FIG. 3 illustrates how the vacuum cleaner housing and attachment operate in the cleaning of a rug or carp Referring now to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the attachment is shown at 10, and includes a frame 12 which may take the form of the rectangular panel as illustrated. The frame includes a pair of opposed sides l4, l6, alcading edge 18, and a trailing edge 20.

Projecting downwardly from the base of the frame 12 are multiple tines 22. Such tines are arranged in rows extending between the opposed sides l4, 16. The tines of the various rows are staggered, preferably, whereby a more complete and uniform combing or raking action is provided on the attachment being drawn over a region of the carpet, without the introduction of excessive frictional drag in the attachment.

The attachment is mounted on a vacuum cleaner, such as the one partially shown at 24, with the frame 12 directly in front of the vacuum cleaner housing 26, such shousing being the usual one that encloses the suction area cleaned by the vacuum cleaner. The frame on movement of the vacuum cleaner travels over the same path which the vacuum cleaner housing travels over.

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown, the means provided for attaching the attachment to the cleaner housing comprises a pair of straps 28, 30 extending rearwardly from frame 12. The forward set of ends of the straps are secured to the frame 12 through screws 32, 34. The rearwardly projecting free ends of the straps are provided with bores 36, 38.

Secured to the cleaner housing are a pair of brackets, such as the one shown at 40. These are provided with laterally outwardly projecting pins 42, 44. In conning the attachment to the housing, the straps are placed in a position straddling the cleaner housing, and then bowed outwardly slightly, to enable them to be fitted over the pins 42, 44 of brackets 40. On release of the straps, the free ends of the straps come together to produce a secure connection. The connection is such that the attachment is fixedly secured in place when mounted on the vacuum cleaner housing.

It will be noted that tines 22 incline rearwardly, or toward the trailing edge of the frame, in projecting downwardly from the frame. This makes it easier to push the attachment away from the operator during an initial cleaning pass. The tines tend to rake deeper on a final cleaning pass and on the attachment being drawn to an operator.

In utilizing the cleaner and attachment, the operator firsts moves the vacuum cleaner away from him, with such movement causing the attachment to move over the carpet in advance of housing 26 with the tines sliding over the filaments or strands which make up the shag surfacing of the carpet. This produces a preliminary combing action in the shag, exposing dirt material whereby on the cleaner housing moving over the same region such is better'picked up by the vacuum cleaner. On the operator returning the cleaner by pulling it toward him, there is another vacuuming of this region followed by the tines of the attachment again combing the area, this time to a slightly greater depth because of the incline of the tines described.

The attachment is very easy to use, and has been found to add little to the manual effort required in mov-.

ing the vacuum cleaner. A carpet processed using the attachment and cleaner has a fluffy, well manicured appearance, without the matted characteristic apparent when a vacuum cleaner alone is employed.

In the event that it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner for ordinary floors, and without the attachment, it is a simple matter to remove the attachment by pulling the straps away from the side of the housing to release it.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described, it is appreciated that variations are possible without departing from the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters patent:

l. A rake attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising, in operative position,

a substantially horizontal frame having a top and a bottom, forward and trailing edges, and opposed sides joining said forward and trailing edges,

multiple tines disposed in multiple rows on the bottom of said frame, the rows extending between said sides of the frame and the tines of one row being staggered with respect to the tines of other rows, the tines projecting downwardly and inclining rearwardly toward the trailing edge of the frame, and

.housing overlying and embracing a suction area cleaned by the vacuum cleaner,

a frame having a top and a bottom secured to the vacuum cleaner positioned forwardly of the vacuum cleanerhousing, said frame moving in the path of the cleaner housing and the suction area embraced thereby with movement of the vacuum cleaner, and multiple tines disposed in multiple rows on the bottom of said frame which rows extend transversely of said path, said tines being mounted on and projecting downwardly from said frame, the tines of the various rows being staggered and the tines inclining toward the vacuum cleaner in projecting down from said frame. 

1. A rake attachment for a vacuum cleaner comprising, in operative position, a substantially horizontal frame having a top and a bottom, forward and trailing edges, and opposed sides joining said forward and trailing edges, multiple tines disposed in multiple rows on the bottom of said frame, the rows extending between said sides of the frame and the tines of one row being staggered with respect to the tines of other rows, the tines projecting downwardly and inclining rearwardly toward the trailing edge of the frame, and means on opposite sides of said frame projecting rearwardly of the trailing edge thereof for detachably coupling the frame to the housing of a vacuum cleaner.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means on opposite sides of said frame comprises opposed straps projecting rearwardly to terminate in unjoined ends adapted to straddle the vacuum cleaner housing, said straps having means adjacent their unjoined ends for fixedly Securing said ends to the vacuum cleaner housing.
 3. The combination of a vacuum cleaner including a housing mounted for movement over the ground, the housing overlying and embracing a suction area cleaned by the vacuum cleaner, a frame having a top and a bottom secured to the vacuum cleaner positioned forwardly of the vacuum cleaner housing, said frame moving in the path of the cleaner housing and the suction area embraced thereby with movement of the vacuum cleaner, and multiple tines disposed in multiple rows on the bottom of said frame which rows extend transversely of said path, said tines being mounted on and projecting downwardly from said frame, the tines of the various rows being staggered and the tines inclining toward the vacuum cleaner in projecting down from said frame. 